Gianna Landrum L’25, Zinyah Robinson L’25, Savannah Stinson L’25, and Kristin Swilley L’25 will be joined by Assistant Professor Chrystal Clodomir in nurturing a culture of belonging and inclusivity among law students in Greensboro and Charlotte.
Four accomplished students with a demonstrated record of service and a commitment to inclusive excellence have been named Elon Law Student Diversity Fellows for 2024-2025.
Gianna Landrum L’25, Zinyah Robinson L’25, Savannah Stinson L’25, and Kristin Swilley L’25 will meet biweekly with Laké Laosebikan-Buggs, Elon University’s director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional education, while participating in Student Bar Association meetings and acting as liaisons for classmates.
The third cohort of Elon Law Student Diversity Fellows will also share techniques for navigating sensitive topics and broker cultural understanding between students and faculty, coordinate events that celebrate human differences, and plan pre-Orientation activities that center students from historically marginalized communities.
Joining them in their work promoting inclusive excellence is Chrystal Clodomir, a professor selected as Elon Law’s second Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Equity & Inclusion.
Clodomir will focus her work on identifying best practices for inclusive law teaching and elevating community awareness of the strengths neurodiverse law students bring to the law school classroom and the legal profession.
Possible outcomes of her research by mid 2025 include a community awareness campaign to improve understanding among neurotypical learners, faculty and staff; a framework of reliable procedures for students to safely self-identify as neurodiverse when necessary; and a curriculum guide for faculty who may choose to infuse neurodiverse inclusion in their course delivery.
At the same time, she intends to use survey findings and other research as the foundation for a future journal article.
“Equity-minded student leaders are essential in Elon University’s efforts to achieve inclusive excellence, and our newest Elon Law Student Diversity Fellows are poised to advance this journey,” said Randy Williams, the university’s vice president for inclusive excellence. “Our fellows will assist in developing law graduates with expanded perspectives that help ensure equitable and inclusive lawyering needed in our society.
“Student and faculty fellow programs empower members of our community to act on the shared responsibility toward inclusive excellence.”
The 2024-2025 Elon Law Student Diversity Fellows
Gianna Landrum L’25
Hometown: Hillburn, New York
Alma Mater and Major: B.S. in Criminal Justice, St. Thomas Aquinas College
Intended Practice Area: Health Law and Disability Rights Research
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Community Service Coordinator of the Elon Law Pro Bono Board, president of the Mental Health Law Society, member of the Black Law Students Association and the Health Law & Bioethics Society
“Becoming an attorney is much more than having a J.D. at the end of my name; it is advocating for others in every room. When I came to Elon Law, I was worried about being ‘othered’ as I often have been as a black woman with a disability in a professional space, but I went into the building to open arms and a safe place to share. As a Diversity Fellow, I hope to show students that they have a seat at our table when they are reminded that the profession does not always have equity in mind. I hope to find seats for those who can’t see the table and to allow the voices of those who feel unheard or invisible to be loud and listened to.”
Zinyah Robinson L’25
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. in Criminology, North Carolina State University
Intended Practice Areas: Business Litigation
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Black Law Student Association, Secretary; Student Bar Association, 1L Rep 23’-24’; Mock Trial Team; Torts Teaching Assistant
“During my undergraduate years, I often grappled with feelings of not belonging—experiencing what many call imposter syndrome. As I transitioned to law school, I was determined to find an environment that fostered a sense of community. As an Elon Law Student Diversity Fellow, I am committed to creating a space where individuals who look, speak, and dress like me can feel comfortable expressing themselves and being their authentic selves. The previous fellows have done a fabulous job laying the foundation for the current fellows and I hope to accomplish just as much, if not more.”
Savannah Stinson L’25
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Undergraduate Alma Mater and Major: B.A. in Sociology, Winthrop University
Intended Practice Areas: Criminal Litigation
Involvement and Leadership Roles: President of BLSA, Teen Court Judge, Street Law, Mock Trial, Lawyers for Literacy, Academic Environment
“As a first-generation student and a black woman, I understand the importance of implementing diversity in all institutions, especially law. This year, I hope to step into the shoes of the wonderful fellows before me and continue to hold up the mantle of promoting inclusive excellence. As various cultures, experiences and lifestyles enter spaces from which they were previously excluded, it is important to have the insight and support to uplift everyone. I am honored to receive this position and hope to gain further knowledge on the importance and application of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this capacity!”
Kristin Swilley L’25
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma Mater and Major: B.A. and M.A. in History, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Intended Practice Area: Municipal Law / Administrative Law
Involvement and Leadership Roles: Leadership Fellow, Student Representative for the North Carolina Bar Association, Student Mentor, Vice President of Education Law Society, Outreach Chair for Parents Attending Law School, member of Elon Law’s Innocents Project and First Generation Society
“As someone who grew up in a low-income, single-parent household, I learned at a young age that education would provide pathways for creating stability for myself, not understanding the privilege that afforded me the opportunities I have had. I served as a public educator for six years, working with students from all walks of life. My desire to advocate for my students to ensure they all had access to a well-funded education, regardless of ZIP code, motivated my decision to pursue law. My goal as an Elon Law Student Diversity Fellow is to develop the skills needed to foster intentional diversity efforts in the legal community long after graduating. Through continued deliberate diversity efforts at educational institutions like Elon, the legal community will gradually consist of more and more practitioners who genuinely reflect the communities we serve.”
About the Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Equity & Inclusion
Chrystal Clodomir joined the Elon Law faculty in 2021-2022 to teach Legal Method & Communication after managing a solo practice in Greensboro where she served parents and children in a variety of family and education matters. She has also taught courses in the paralegal program at Guilford Technical Community College and worked for local governments as a soft skills trainer in various public agencies.
A graduate of Rutgers University and Cornell University School of Law, Clodomir practiced criminal law in New York and education law in Delaware prior to moving to North Carolina in 2018 and originally joining the legal staff of the Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina.
“I’m excited to serve as the Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Equity and Inclusion,” she said. “My work will add to our ongoing pursuit towards holistic diversity, equity and inclusion, by focusing on neurodiverse learners. My goal is to identify best practices in inclusive law teaching and generate deeper community understanding about how neurodiverse law students enrich the law school classroom and ultimately the legal profession.”